VTR redirects here. For other meanings, see VTR (disambiguation).

A video tape recorder (VTR), is a tape recorder that can record video material. The video cassette recorder (VCR), where the videotape is enclosed in a user-friendly videocassette shell, is the most familiar type of VTR known to consumers. Professionals may use other types of video tapes and recorders.

History of video tape recording

• Charles P. Ginsburg, at Ampex Corporation

Technologies

Video tape recorder technologies include:

Analog reel-to-reel

• VERA (BBC)
• 2" Quadruplex (Ampex,(RCA and (Bosch's Fernseh)
• 1" Type A (Ampex)
• 1" Type B (Bosch's Fernseh - BTS Philips)
• IVC 2 inch Helical scan (International Video Corporation's IVC 9000 Format)
• 1" Type C (Sony, Ampex, NEC and Hitachi)

Professional cassette / cartridge based systems

• U-matic (3/4")
• Betacam (Sony)
• M-II (Panasonic)
• Betacam SP (Sony)

A Betamax video tape by BASF.

Standard definition Digital video tape formats

• D1 (Sony) and Broadcast Television Systems Inc.
• D2 (Sony and Ampex)
• D3 (Panasonic)
• DCT (Ampex)
• Digital Betacam (Sony)
• Betacam IMX (Sony)
• DVCAM (Sony)
• DVCPRO (Panasonic)
• D9 (Digital-S) (JVC)

High definition Digital video tape formats

• HDCAM (Sony)
• HDCAM-SR (Sony)
• D5 HD (Panasonic)
• D6 HDTV VTR (BTS - Philips - Thomson SA - Grass Valley (company))
• DVCPROHD (Panasonic)
• D-VHS (JVC and Panasonic)
• HDV (Sony and JVC)

Consumer formats

• DV (miniDV is the cassette size)
• Digital8 (Sony)
• Video 2000 (Philips)
• Betamax
• VHS
• S-VHS (JVC)
• VHS-C (JVC)
• Video8
• Hi8
• MicroMV
• Cartrivision

See video cassette recorder for a full treatment of domestic formats.

References in popular culture

In their song "Video killed the radio star", the Buggles sing "Put the blame on VTR".

External links

• - VTR-Museum
• Video Duplication and Archiving of old Video Formats